BV 



E GIFTS FOR THE KING 





Class 

Book 

GopyrightN . 



COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT 



WHITE GIFTS FOR 
THE KING 



WHITE GIFTS FOR 
THE KING 

A CHRISTMAS SERVICE 
FOR SUNDAY SCHOOLS 

3Sp pete 8L. Curtfgs 

A service of song, scripture and story 
which gives expression to the "white 
gift" idea in the Sunday school's public 
observance of Christmas. 

Prices : 5 cents per copy ; 5 5 cents 

per dozen ; $4.25 per hundred, 

all prepaid. 

F. M. BARTON COMPANY 
CLEVELAND, OHIO 



WHITE GIFTS FOR 
THE KING 



BY 

PHEBE A. CURTISS 




CLEVELAND, OHIO 

F. M. BARTON COxMPANY 

1910 






Copyright, 1910 
By F. M. Barton Company 



©CLA278442 



^ 



WHITE GIFTS FOR 
THE KING 

«HT\HIS strange country is called 
X Cathay, and the ruler thereof 
is one Kublah Khan, a mighty warrior, 
who, by reason of his strong will and 
trusty sword has made himself lord of 
the whole land. His government is 
both wise and just, and is administered 
for rich and poor alike, without fear 
or favor. On the king's birthday the 
people observe what is called the 
White Feast. Then are the king and 
his court assembled in a great room of 
the palace, which is all white, the 
floor of marble and the walls hung 
with curtains of white silk. All are 
in white apparel and they offer unto 
5 



WHITE GIFTS 

the king white gifts, to show that their 
love and loyalty are without stain. 
The rich bring to their lord pearls, 
carvings of ivory, white chargers, and 
costly embroidered garments. The 
poor present white pigeons and hand- 
fuls of rice. Nor doth the great king 
regard one gift above another so long 
as all be white. And so do they keep 
the king's birthday."* 

Sidney read the little legend and 
laid the paper down. For a moment 
she sat leaning back against the com- 
fortable cushions with her eyes closed. 
Then she picked up the paper and 
read it once more. 

A wistful look spread over her sweet 
face, and unconsciously she murmured, 

*From article, "The White Gift," by Ida B. 
Smith, in Pittsburg Christian Advocate, December 
17, 1903. 

6 



FORTHEKING 

"And so do they keep the king's birth- 
day!" The King's birthday! Why, 
that is just what Christmas is! and how 
do I keep the King's birthday? Do 
I bring him white gifts?" 

Slowly she opened her bag and took 
from it her shopping list. She re- 
viewed her struggles during the past 
few days to complete this list and have 
it in readiness so that when she should 
arrive at home for her holiday vaca- 
tion she could make her purchases. 
How hard it had been to decide upon 
something suitable for each one of the 
relatives and friends! So many of 
them were people who were already 
surfeited with this world's good things. 

Her face flushed, too, as she realized 
that in one case and another her only 

thought had been whether the article 

7 



she was to purchase would equal in 
S w h : rth and beauty the gift she would 
probably receive from that quarter 
P She had thought she was doing t 
allf or love; but how little o f , ; 

denial there really was m *1 H°w 
impossible to find even one grit that 

mi ght be called a "white gift. 

She was very quiet all through the 
dinner hour and even the bright con- 
versation of the lively set of g rb 
her table, and the usual gay chatter 
t m the^ther groups in the college 

dining room, failed to rouse her from 
he r thoughtful mood; and just as soon 

as possible she slipped away to the 
quiet of her own room. 
q She placed on her door, the card 
bearing the word "Busy"-the college 

g 1's protection against intrusion, and 



FORTHEKING 

the evening spent there alone was one 
she never forgot. After opening her 
girl-heart in prayer, at its close she 
dropped to sleep whispering, "Nor 
doth the great King regard one gift 
above another as long as all be white." 

Sidney was a junior in L — College 
at W — and she was a moving spirit 
among her young classmates. On the 
day following, there was a class meet- 
ing. Sidney had never thought of tell- 
ing the girls about the wonderful im- 
pression the legend had made upon 
her but somehow it just came out with- 
out her being able to help it. 

They came into the little class room, 
up in the tower, full of energy and all 
sorts of interests, and threw themselves 
down into the cozy corners and on the 
cushions scattered here and there. Of 
9 



WHITE GIFTS 

course, every one was excited over 
Christmas plans and before Sidney 
knew what she was doing she Had un- 
burdened her heart to them. 

Long before she finished, tears stood 
in the eyes that looked into hers, and 
hearts beat very tenderly indeed. In 
less time than it takes to tell it, the 
meeting had resolved itself into one 
of inquiry as to how they could make 
a white gift to the King. 

With the enthusiasm which, finds its 
supreme dwelling place in the young 
girl's life, plans were eagerly proposed 
and discussed. Each one .was, ofJ 
course, adjusting some individual plan 
of her own, but there must be one! 
class plan. Nothing short of that 
would do. There must be some way 
of reconstructing those shopping lists! 
10 



FOR THE KING 

and out of it all must come a "white 
gift." 

One after another, suggestions were 
made and rejected until they were al- 
most discouraged, when all at once 
Madge, the irrepressible, jumped up 
and threw the cushion she had been 
sitting on, right up to the ceiling and 
shouted, "Oh, I have it, girls — just the 
finest scheme you can imagine! Why 
didn't I think of it before? You 
know that homely little freshman who 
rooms right around the corner from 
Virginia and me — that one whose 
clothes never seem to have been made 
for her — well, the other day I ran 
right into her as I was hurrying down 
to the "gym" and nearly knocked her 
over. I stopped to beg her pardon, 

and the minute I looked at her I knew 
11 



WHITE GIFTS 

she had been crying, for her eyes and 
nose were horribly red. She mumbled 
something and was hurrying away; 
but, somehow, I felt so sorry for her I 
couldn't let her go and I just made her 
tell me what was the matter. You 
see, she is working her way through 
college because her father is dead, and 
she is just determined to fit herself 
for teaching so she can take care of 
her mother and her younger brother 
Bob. They live away out west — a 
long w r ay from here; but she came to 
this college because her mother gradu- 
ated here, ages ago, away back in the 
seventies; and she can't go home for 
Christmas because it takes too much 
money. When she heard us all mak- 
ing our plans to go home, it was more 

than she could bear." 
12 



FOR THEKING 

"She said she could stand it herself 
but it just broke her heart to think of 
Bob, for girls, he's a poor little crip- 
ple and he always depends upon her 
for his Christmas fun.' 

"Do you know, when she got to 
talking to me about Bob, such a light 
came into her eyes and there was such 
a tender smile around her mouth that 
she just looked positively beautiful!" 

"I've thought about it a hundred 
times since, and wished I could do 
something to help her to go home for 
her vacation. Of course, it seemed an 
utter impossibility with all there was 
to do for Christmas; but, girls, don't 
you think we can do it if we cut down 
those lists and all club together?" 

Such a wild shout of appreciation 
went up that Miss McK — , the dean, 

13 



WHITE GIFTS 

who was passing through the hall 
sighed wearily and said, "Those 
juniors are planning some mischief 
again. We'll have to be on the look- 
out tonight." 

Meeting after meeting followed and 
it was surprising how much real en- 
joyment that company of girls got out 
of the planning; and as the whole 
crowd stood on the platform at the 
station, waving good-bye to the "home- 
ly little freshman," as she started off 
a day earlier than they needed to go, 
every one of them agreed with Madge 
that the face which beamed down at 
them, through the car window was 
"positively beautiful !" 

And so did they keep the King^s 
birthday. 

The same beautiful legend fell into 

14 



FORTHEKING 

the hands, one day, of the minister's 
wife. Like Sidney, she read it over 
and the beauty of it lingered in her 
mind. 

She thought of the school, back in 
the old parish, where so much of her 
splendid energy had been expended 
and she had a vision of how it might 
prove to be the means of pointing 
them to just what they had been seek- 
ing — a more fitting way to celebrate 
the King's birthday. She clipped it 
out of the paper and sent it back to 
some kindred spirits there and it forms, 
today, the basis of the plan of the 
"White Christmas" which has been in 
operation in that school for several 
years and which is now being adopted 
by many other schools. 

It comes very near to being an ideal 
IS 



WHITE GIFTS 

way of keeping the King's birthday, 
It makes it a time of giving instead 
of receiving; a time of consecration 
and re-consecration of self and sub- 
stance, on the part of every member of 
the school, whether old or young. 

One of the most interesting studies 
of today is the evolution of the Christ- 
mas festival, especially to one who can 
look back over the last half century. 
Fifty years ago the Christmas celebra- 
tion was a very simple service. The 
exercises, in which the children took 
part, consisted of responsive readings, 
bringing out the story of the birth of 
Christ, recitations along the same line 
of thought, interspersed with the sing- 
ing of the grand old Christmas hymns 
— "All hail the power of Jesus' name," 
"Hark, what mean those holy voices," 

16 



FORTHEKING 

"Joy to the world!" and others; and 
many a child had his first impulse to 
serve as those sacred strains stirred his 
soul. 

Gradually new features were intro- 
duced. The Christmas tree became an 
indispensable part of it, first with its 
appropriate decorations, but later with 
presents for the different members of 
the school. This innovation presented 
a problem to the teacher, who was sup- 
posed to expend the small amount 
allowed per head in such a way as 
to satisfy the expectations of the petted 
little Miss Somebody who had every 
conceivable gift in the home, and at 
the same time cover the ground for 
the child of poverty, whose only gift 
possibly was the one which came from 
the Christmas tree. The securing of 

17 



WHITE GIFTS 

this money was often a problem, too. 
Sometimes the missionary offering had 
to be diminished by so much and some- 
times good natured individuals sup- 
plied the amount. 

In time Santa Claus made his ap- 
pearance and no Christmas annual was 
complete without him; and then be- 
gan the agony for the men. One after 
another they were unwillingly pressed 
into service, and padded and masked 
and bedecked with snowy beard and 
bright garments were compelled to 
grind out funny sayings as the gifts 
and candies were distributed. In all 
the world there never was a more sys- 
tematically over-worked individual 
than the Sunday school Santa Claus. 
No wonder so many of the men had 
imperative business engagements out 

18 



FOR THE KING 

of town at that time of year! After 
a time, even Santa failed to satisfy and 
there must be a Mrs. Santa Claus and 
possibly some little Santa Claus' to 
meet the demand. 

Then came those strenuous days 
when mighty things were undertaken. 
Each school must have some method 
distinctly its own. It must be original, 
unique, unparalleled — entirely differ- 
ent from the method used by every 
other school in the community. 

Those were days when cottages were 
built, whose roofs were covered with 
tinselled cotton which glistened and 
looked like snow; fireplaces and chim- 
neys must be constructed and mills 
where the Brownies ground out the 
gifts. Those were never-to-be-for- 
gotten days! Sleepless nights were 

19 



WHITE GIFTS 

spent in planning, weary hours were 
passed in executing, and dispositions 
were wrecked over the accomplish- 
ment of it all. 

But enough. The extreme was 
reached at last and the eyes of the 
Sunday school world slowly but surely 
opened to the fact that in too many in- 
stances the real issue was being over- 
looked. The whole emphasis was mis- 
placed and material things were filling 
our minds, while the real Christ spirit 
was being left out. It was time in- 
deed to make a change. 

This change was started at the very 
foundation and gradually we found a 
growing desire to give instead of to re- 
ceive. Gifts of all sorts were brought 
to the Christmas festival and included 
groceries, fuel, clothing, toys and deli- 

20 



FORTHEKING 

caries, which were later on carried 
into the homes where these things 
were lacking. Sometimes a simple 
program was carried out and with 
such an object in mind it was certain 
that the spirit of thoughtfulness for 
others would creep in and manifest 
itself. Sometimes a more elaborate 
program accompanied the giving. For 
example, one school arranged to make 
its gifts to a certain institution. Each 
class decided what gift it would bring 
and it gave that gift in its own way. 
Each plan was a secret known only to 
teacher and pupils until the night of 
the entertainment. The air bristled 
with mysteries and what surprises 
there were ! 

One class of boys invested their 
money in Sapolio and each boy came 
21 



WHITE GIFTS 

in dressed to represent one of the citi- 
zens of "Spotless Town," with which 
everyone was familiar at that time. As 
he recited his verse he placed his con- 
tribution upon the growing pile of 
Sapolio. A class of little girls came 
in dressed like the "Chocolate Lady" 
on the packages of cocoa and each one 
bore her gift, a box of cocoa, upon her 
little tray. No word was spoken. The 
^utfit told the story. One company of 
boys were transformed into dusty 
millers, each with a sack of flour on 
his shoulder; and another crowd were 
jolly farmers, with wagons appropri- 
ately filled with vegetables and fruits. 
Were the children disappointed be- 
cause there w r ere no gifts for them? 
No indeed. They never missed the 

22 



FORTHEKING 

gifts at all because they were so filled 
with the spirit of doing for others. 

Many other methods for establish- 
ing a "giving Christmas" have been 
tried, with varying degrees of success ; 
but none of them have come nearer to 
being ideal than the White Christmas 
or the bringing of "White Gifts for 
the King" as adopted by the Metho- 
dist Episcopal Sunday School of 
Painesville, Ohio, some years ago. 

About a month before Christmas 
each year, every member of the school, 
including those in the Cradle Roll and 
Home Department, is furnished a 
white envelope bearing the words "My 
White Gift for the King." This en- 
velope is designed to hold the gift of 
money, but it also contains a slip of 
paper with suggestions of gifts of 

23 



WHITE GIFTS 

service that may be made. These sug- 
gestions are classified under the fol- 
lowing heads: — Self, Service, Sub- 
stance, and so varied are they that no 
one could fail to find one he might 
accept. 

Particular stress is laid upon the 
fact that these gifts must in every case 
be over and above all other gifts and 
in no instance must they detract from 
the regular gifts. 

The first year the plan was thor- 
oughly matured in the minds of the 
officers and teachers and through them 
was made plain to the pupils. Classes 
held their meetings for counsel and 
preparation, because each class could 
designate for what purpose its gift was 
to be used. Only one stipulation was 
made— all must be used for others. 

24 



FORTHEKING 

The interest in the approaching 
event took possession of each one ; and 
this interest was stimulated constantly 
by the attractive notices that each Sun- 
day rilled one page of the church 
bulletin, devoted to that purpose. 

At last the evening of the Christmas 
service came. It was the King's birth- 
day; and with conflicting emotions the 
company assembled. Some there were, 
among the older members, who feared 
that the children would be disap- 
pointed if there were no gifts for them. 
But this fear was entirely ungrounded. 
Whatever feeling existed at the open- 
ing of the meeting, one alone prevailed 
at the close; and that was a feeling 
almost of awe at the blessedness of it 
all. 
A large, bright, new pan was on the 

2S 



WHITE GIFT S 

table and into that, as the envelopes 
were opened, the money jingled, and 
the pile grew until eyes were wide 
with surprise. Even the most extrava- 
gant dreams were more than realized 
and that first year the gift of money 
amounted to more than three hundred 
dollars. That item was a small one, 
however, when compared with the 
pledges of service that were made. 

The superintendent's voice was un- 
steady as he read "I promise to teach 
a Sunday school class when requested," 
"I will be more cordial to strangers," 
"I will seek opportunities for personal 
interviews with those who have not 
accepted Christ," and like pledges of 
service; and we can imagine the feel- 
ing of the pastor, as he heard pledge 
after pledge of decision for Christ 

26 



FORTHEKING 

and earnest re-consecration to his serv- 
ice. 

Each year the method of receiving 
the gifts is varied and changes are 
made in the decorations and other ap- 
pointments which add to the interest 
each time. I had the privilege of at- 
tending one of these services some 
years ago and I shall never forget its 
impressiveness. It was Sunday even- 
ing, just at the twilight hour, and a 
dim, soft light spread over the great 
auditorium. There was the sound of 
music, too, for a set of chimes was con- 
cealed in the gallery at the back, and 
some one was rendering upon them the 
inspiring old Christmas hymns. No 
wonder the heads were bowed in rev- 
erence as the audience quietly entered 
and was seated. At the appointed time 

27 



WHITE GIFTS 

the lights were turned on full and then 
the platform was brought into plain 
view. It was draped in pure white. 
The only decorations were Christmas 
trees, one at either end of the platform. 
These trees did not have the usual 
trimmings, but instead they were cov- 
ered with festoons of white ribbon 
to which were attached envelopes like 
the ones containing the white gifts. 

After a season of prayer and praise 
a section of the white drapery was 
lifted, disclosing a tall white cross 
against a black background in the cen- 
ter of the platform. Then the roll of 
the classes was called, starting with 
the Home Department and finishing 
with the Cradle Roll, and some repre- 
sentative responded for each class in 
turn. 

28 



FOR THE KING 

The Home Department gave one 
hundred crisp one dollar bills and 
these were fastened upon a long strip of 
white ribbon and as the superintendent 
of the Home Department presented 
this gift he looped the ends of the rib- 
bon up over the arms of the cross. The 
amount given by each class was read 
and the object to which it was to be 
devoted was stated and then the gift 
was laid at the foot of the cross. The 
individual gifts of service were not 
read but were in the envelopes and 
later came into the hands of the pas- 
tor and the superintendent. 

One class made its gift to educate a 
boy in China; another, that "uneasy 
class" of boys, gave fifteen dollars to 
take care of a child in India; one gave 
to the little deaconess who meets pas- 

29 



WHITE GIFTS 

sengers at the railway station in Cleve- 
land and gives them any possible help ; 
one class of girls gave money to buy 
a cow for the Fresh Air Camp to re- 
place the one that had died the sum- 
mer before. All sorts of good causes 
were found to which they could min- 
ister. 

Beautiful as were these gifts, how- 
ever, they could not compare with the 
gifts of service. One pledged himself 
to attend prayer meeting regularly; 
others to assist in prayer and testi- 
mony, to welcome strangers, to teach 
a class, to act as substitute teacher, to 
serve in Epworth League or Mission- 
ary Society, to assist in Home Depart- 
ment w r ork; and some gave the best 
gift of all, for they gave themselves to 
the King. A look into the sparkling 

30 



FORTHEKING 

eyes and happy faces was enough to 
banish any fear that one might have 
had that these boys and girls would be 
disappointed at the absence of gifts 
for them. They had learned that "It 
is more blessed to give than to re- 
ceive." 

For six years this school has used 
this plan and the results can hardly 
be measured. The financial statement 
concerning it is as follows : 

FINANCIAL SUMMARY- 
WHITE GIFTS. 

1904 $ 306.72 

1905 451-02 

1906 475-02 

1907 5 I 7-9 8 

1908 619.13 

1909 1073.22 

One enthusiastic worker in this 

31 



WHITE GIFTS 

school writes: "When we began it 
was a white gift of 



S 



elf 

ervice 

ubstance 



but it is easy to commercialize this, as 

it is other plans, so now we make it a 
gift of 

SELF 
ERVICE 
ubstance 

A very striking demonstration of the 
results of this plan is furnished by the 
outcome of some of the personal 
pledges. One little beginner stopped 
"sucking her fingers"; another went 
right to bed when his mother asked 
him to. One boy refrained from peep- 
ing into the Christmas packages that 
his mother had hidden, although he 

32 



FOR THE KING 

knew where they were, because he 
thought of his "white gift." One boy 
was carrying in wood to earn his white 
gift and a delivery man who noticed 
his enthusiasm asked about it. When 
the boy explained, the man said, "Well, 
I'll have to give a nickel to that," and 
so the interest was started in a new 
direction. 

Last year, one member of the church 
offered as his "white gift," to go regu- 
larly out into the country, to revive a 
Sunday school that had become ex- 
tinct; and he promised to take charge 
of it. He has gone every Sunday since 
his promise was made and the attend- 
ance has increased until now, instead 
of the six or seven people who were 
present, there are twenty-five or thirty. 

But perhaps the most marvelous in- 

33 



WHITE GIFTS 

stance lies in the case of a member of 
the Home Department who, six years 
ago, made this pledge: "I promise our 
King to look after and take better care 
of his little ones this coming year." 
On the very next Sunday this man ap- 
peared, at the Sunday school hour, 
with a company of boys not members 
of the school — boys who had been en- 
tirely outside of the influence of any 
school. He had searched them out ? 
here and there, and so interesting did 
he make their work that in an almost 
incredible space of time the class was 
so large as to overcrowd the room as- 
signed to it. 

The history of this class sounds like 

a fairy tale, and its recital gives an 

t insight into the lives of scores of boys 

in that little city. During the six 

34 



FORTHEKING 

years, two hundred and twenty-eight 
boys have been enrolled among its 
members and have come directly un- 
der the influence of this earnest man, 
who found this opportunity for service 
when he made his "white gift" to the 
King. 

His work is not limited to the Sab- 
bath day. He knows his boys every 
day in the week. He is a hard-work- 
ing man but he finds time to know 
them in their homes, on the street, at 
their work, in their play; and he enters 
into their very heart-life. Each year 
he goes into camp with as many of 
them as can go, and it is no wonder 
that the result of his effort is the en- 
listment of many of these boys under 
the banner of the same Leader he 
serves. 

39 



WHITE GIFTS 

Nor does his influence cease with 
the boys. So close into their lives does 
he come that he has brought rich 
blessing, material and spiritual, into 
many of their homes; and his name is 
synonymous with all that is kind and 
helpful in that community. 

This particular school has experi- 
enced a rich spiritual growth and a 
marvelous uplift through the keeping 
of the "White Christmas" and what 
has been done there can be done any- 
where. 

An important feature of the work 
lies in the careful preparation. The 
mind must be reached and the heart 
touched with a perfect understanding 
and appreciation of the aim of the 
plan and the results to be attained. 
The minister can do his part in keep- 

36 



FORTHEKING 

ing it constantly before the people; 
the officers have their own responsi- 
bilities in carrying out the details ; but 
the success of it finally depends upon 
the personal touch of the teacher. 

"Nor doth the great King regard 
one gift above another so long as all 
be white!" It is the spirit of the gift 
that makes it "white"; and this spirit 
must be kindled through every possi- 
ble means. 

Good use may be made of a story in 
preparing the minds of the members 
of the school. No more effective one 
can be selected than van Dyke's 
"Story of the Other Wise Man." The 
very moment we are introduced to Ar- 
taban, the Fourth Wise Man, we begin 
to feel the charm of his character. We 
start with him on his long and tiresome 

37 



WHITE GIFTS 

journey to find the star which shall 
lead him to the King, and we long for 
the moment when he shall be able to 
lay his tribute — three precious stones 
— at his feet. 

We share his compassion for the 
sick and suffering stranger by the way- 
side and are glad when he stops to 
minister to him. We cannot regret it, 
even, when we find that because oi 
this delay he is compelled to part with 
one of his precious stones, the sapphire, 
in order to continue his journey. Oui 
hearts are tender when "for the sake of 
a little child" we see him part with 
the second precious stone, the ruby, 
that the baby's life may be spared to 
his mother. 

How vividly we picture his life of 
service through all the years as he "fed 

38 



FORTHEKING 

the hungry and clothed the naked and 
healed the sick and comforted the cap- 
tive," seeming, in his utter unselfish- 
ness, to have entirely forgotten his 
quest. Then comes the climax, when 
Artaban, in order to pay the ransom 
of the slave girl, parts with his last 
beautiful gem — his cherished pearl. 

We hear his voice tremble as he 
says, "It is the last of my treasures 
which I kept for the King"; but our 
hearts swell within us as we find by 
this very forgetfulness of self and 
thoughtfulness for others he has 
merited that sweetest of all commenda- 
tions, "Verily I say unto thee, inas- 
much as thou hast done it unto one of 
the least of these, my brethren, thou 
hast done it unto me." 

Can any one hear this beautiful 

39 



WHITE GIFTS 

story and not be ready to make a 
"white gift" to the King? 

For the smaller children the wonder 
story called "The Great Walled Coun- 
try" has a fascination and through the 
recital of the way in which the quaint 
people of that fanciful land one year 
failed to find the accustomed gifts 
from Grandfather Christmas because 
they had become absorbed in seeking 
gifts for themselves, the beautiful les- 
son of thought for others is taught. 

The compiling of the program is 
another important factor. The princi- 
pal part of this program will consist in 
the reports of the several classes as to 
the amount of the gift and the disposi- 
tion to be made of it; but these reports 
must be supplemented by well-selected 

40 



FORTHEKING 

musical numbers, scripture readings 
and such features. 

The "Legend of Cathay" upon 
which the plan is based should always 
find a place upon the program. 
Toward the close a short address may 
be given or an appropriate story may 
be used. In one school when the plan 
was tried for the first time, at the 
close of the evening's exercise the 
beautiful story, "Why the Chimes 
Rang," was told. Although the chil- 
dren had been sitting through a long 
program, they listened almost without 
moving an eye-lash as this story 
brought out so clearly the very mean- 
ing of a "white gift," and showed so 
perfectly how the offering that the 
two little brothers brought to the 
Christ child did what the many richer 

41 



WHITE GIFTS 

gifts had failed to do. It really made 
the chimes ring — the chimes that for 
so many years had been silent. 

On the birthday of our King, how- 
ever, can there be anything more fit- 
ting than the Christ story itself, which 
gains in loveliness and significance 
with each re-telling? 

It was near the close of the day. 
The shadows were growing long and 
the quiet of the twilight was settling 
over the beautiful little town of Beth- 
lehem. 

Two travelers, a man and a woman, 
drew near to the place. They were 
footsore and weary for they had come 
a long distance. They breathed a 
sigh of relief, as they found themselves 
drawing near to the place where they 
hoped to find rest from their journey, 

42 



FOR THE KING 

With many others they had come on 
an important errand. All day long a 
constant stream of people had poured 
into that little city; and now, when 
these tired ones reached the inn and 
asked for a place to stay they found 
that every spot had been filled. 

"No room at the inn!" They looked 
into one another's eyes in dismay. 
Could it be true? Every effort failed 
and at last they found there was but 
one thing left to do. They must take 
refuge in the stable. 

It was while they were there, that 
Mary gave birth to her first born son. 
She wrapped him in swaddling clothes 
and laid him in a manger, for there 
was no other cradle. With the lowing 
of the cattle for a lullaby he slept; 
and the young mother felt her heart 

43 



WHITE GIFTS 

swell within her with that beautiful 
love which in all ages since, has filled 
the mother-heart. 

In this quiet, humble way was be- 
gun the life which has meant more to 
the world than all other lives com- 
bined. It does not seem strange to us 
that the word should be carried first 
to the shepherds, who, in that same 
country were watching over their 
flocks by night; nor that it should be 
carried by an angel. The shepherds 
were afraid, but the angel reassured 
them and gave them his wonderful 
tidings: "For unto you is born this 
day in the city of David, a Savior, 
which is Christ the Lord." 

Then the angel was joined by "a 
multitude of the heavenly host" and 
there burst upon the air that chorus 

44 



FORTHEKING 

which has come down through all the 
ages, and has never lost its sweetness 
nor its power: "Glory to God in the 
highest, and on earth peace, good will 
toward men." 

The wise men heard the story too, 
and guided by the star which shone in 
the east, they found the babe with his 
mother and laid before him the beau- 
tiful gifts they had brought. 

We love to follow the rounding out 
of that life which had such humble 
beginnings. We easily imagine the 
details of his boy-life for we know 
that he "grew and waxed strong." Wc 
never tire of dwelling upon the life 
of the man Jesus, whom we know as 
Teacher, Brother, Friend and Savior. 

We see him giving strength and 
courage to the weak ones, relieving the 

45 



WHITE GIFTS 

suffering ones, raising the dead and 
cleansing hearts from sin. We find 
him suffering even death itself that we 
may be forgiven; and through his 
resurrection he shows us that we shall 
live again. 

And this is the King that rules our 
hearts today. This is the one who has 
become to us as the King of kings; 
and to whom we come with our white 
gifts. 

Is it a far cry from the time when 
the boy David, who was to be king of 
Israel, tended his flock on the Bethle- 
hem hills, to that wonderful night 
from which our years are dated, when 
the angels announced the birth of a 
Savior, "which is Christ the Lord/' — 
King in his earthly lineage and in his 
heavenly heritage, and destined to be 

46 



FOR THE KING 

enthroned in the hearts of mankind? 

The wise men came asking, "Where 
is he that is born King of the Jews?" 
In the triumphal entry into Jerusalem 
were fulfilled the words of the prophet 
when he said, "Tell ye the daughter of 
Zion, Behold, thy King cometh unto 
thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass. 
When Pilate asked, "Art thou the 
King of the Jews," the answer was, 
"Thou sayest." 

His teachings declare and reveal his 
kingship and when the Jews rejected 
him he established his kingdom, the 
kingdom of God, for all peoples. Let 
John's vision show the full signifi- 
cance of his kingship: "And the 
Lamb shall overcome them; for he 
is Lord of lords, and King of kings; 
and they also shall overcome that are 

47 



WHITE GIFTS 

with him, called and chosen and faith- 
ful." And again, "The kingdom of 
the world is become the kingdom of 
our Lord, and of his Christ; and he 
shall reign for ever and ever." 

"Great and marvelous are thy works, 
O Lord God, the Almighty; 
Righteous and true are thy ways, 
Thou King of the nations." 

Glad indeed will be the day when 
all over our land the stress will be laid 
at Christmas time, in our Sunday 
schools, upon giving in the Christ-like 
spirit. Happy indeed will our boys 
and girls and our men and women be 
when they learn to bring freely and 
lovingly their "white gifts" to the 
King. 

"Nor doth the great King regard 
one gift above another so long as all 
be white." 

48 



FORTHEKING 
WHITE GIFT SUGGESTIONS/ 

As my "White Gift" for our King's 
birthday, and in addition to all others 
I hereby offer — 
MYSELF — "Prove your own selves." 

I this day accept Jesus as my Savior and give 
myself wholly to Him. 

As a Christian, I this day renew my consecra- 
tion to Christ. 

My Service— "Every one hath his 

proper gift." 
In the Church 

Attend services, when practicable, morning and 

evening-. 
Invite another to attend each service. 
Visit the sick and strangers and report to 

the pastor. 
Welcome strangers and new members to the 

church services. 
Serve when assigned any reasonable duty. 
Attend prayer meeting regularly. 
Assist in prayer and testimony. 
Invite someone to Christ each week. 
Co-operate with the pastor in prayer and per- 
sonal appeal during evangelistic services. 
*Form of pledge and list of "white gift" sug- 
gestions used one year by the Methodist Episcopal 
Sunday School of Painesville, Ohio. 

49 



WHITE GIFTS 

My Service (Continued). 

Become an active worker in one of the mis- 
sionary or other societies of the church. 
Become active in the Ladies' Work Society. 



In the Sunday School 

Attend promptly, regularly. 

Study the lesson at home. 

Teach a class regularly. 

Teach as substitute whenever requested. 

Invite others not in any Sunday school. 

Help in Home Department work as requested 



In the Young People's Society. 

Attend promptly, regularly. 

Take part in each meeting when opportunity 

affords. 
Lead the meeting when requested. 
Try to do willingly and well what I am asked 

to do. 



50 



FORTHEKING 

My Substance — "Prove me now 

herewith." 
$ for 

Foreign Missions. 

Home Missions. 

League Mercy and Help Work. 

Fresh Air Camp. 

Support of the Sunday school. 



Signed 

Address 

Note: Mark with an (x) as many of these 
items as you can undertake, sign, enclose in the 
"White Gift" envelope and return on or before 
the date of our Christmas service. No names 
will be announced. 

Write in the blank spaces any other pledges 
you wish to make. 

"Nor doth the Great King regard one gift above 
another, so long as all be white." 



51 



WHITE GIFTS FOR THE KING 

A Service For Christmas. 

Processional Hymn— "As with Gladness Men of Old." 
Prayer. 

Anthem — "Hymn of the Angels'* West 

Responsive Scripture Reading — Luke 2 : 1-14. 
Hymn— "Joy to the World." 
Reading — "A Legend of Cathay." 

Christmas Carol — "Sleep, Holy Babe" Field 

Presentation of the Gifts of the Cradle Roll Department. 
Song by the Beginners' Department— "Jesus Came to Earth." 
Presentation of the Gifts of the Beginners' Department. 
Song by the Primary Department — "Away in a Manger, 

No Crib for a Bed." 
Presentation of the Gifts of the Primary Department. 
Scripture Reading by the Junior Department — Matt. 2:7-12. 
Presentation of the Gifts of the Junior Department. 
Hymn — "There Came Three Kings." 
Recitation by a member of the Intermediate Department— 

"They Gave Him Their Treasures." 
Presentation of the Gifts of the Intermediate Department. 
Presentation of the Gifts of the Senior Department. 
.Presentation of the Gifts of the Home Department. 
Hymn — "0 Little Town of Bethlehem." 
Address. 

Summary of the Gifts. 
Hymn — "Hark! Hark, My Soul!" 
Closing Sentences— Rom 12:1-2; Rev. 3:10-12. 
Benediction. 
Organ Postlude. 

52 



WiUiara C. Due. 



As With Gladness Men of Old. 

(Dix. 7s. 61.) Arr. by W. H. 






As'with gladness men of' old 



Dfd the guiding star be -hold, 






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f#*±=£|=f 



J 

As with joy they hailed its light, Leading on-ward, beaming bright, 

•0- -^-*-« •&■ **• 



— 0—0 — #- 0- -l -0 — -s?- J_j_3_ # _ # - ty ._ p _^-xi 



l i 

So, most gracious Lord, may we 



I 
Ev-er-more be led to Thee. 






:z±z 



I 
zJzj:zf:=*=t=5=:i:— Ezzfl 






2 As with joyful steps they sped, 
Saviour, to thy manger bed, 
There to bend the knee before 
Thee whom heaven and earth adore , 
So may we with willing feet 
Ever seek the mercy -seat. 

9 As they offered gifts most rare 
At Thy eradle rude and hare, 
8q may we with holy joy, 



Pure and free from sin 's alloy, 
All our costliest treasures bring, 
Christ, to Thee, our heavenly King. 

4 Holy Jesus, every day 

Keep us in the narrow way; 
And, when earthly things are past. 
Bring our ransomed souls at last 
Where they need no star to guide, 
Where no clouds Thy glory hide. 



53 



Isaac Watts. 

, J* ! V 



Joy to the World 

(Antioch.) 



Fr. G. F. Handeh 



9 



9 



1. Joy to the world, the Lord is come ! Let earth re-ceive her King ; 

llflfiiipiiiilfipl 

room, And heaven and nature sing* 



Let ey - 'ry heart pre-pare Him room, And heaven and nature sing,. 



-I-.-K 



Ank heav'n and nature sing, And heav'n t and heav'n and nature sing, 
sing, 



».© 






£r 



"Su- 
ture sins. 



• 4 4*'/ 

And heav'n and nature sing. 



JfpglH 



1 Joy to the world, the Lord is come! 

Let earth receive hor King; 
Let every heart prepare Him room, 
And heav'n and nature sing. 

2 Joy to thp earth, the 9avicur reigns! 

Let men their, songs employ; 
While fields and floods, rocks, hills, 
apd plains, 
Repeat the sounding joy. 



3 No more let sins and sorrows grow. 

Nor thorns infest the ground; 
He comes to make His blessings flow, 
Far as the curse is found. 

4 He rujes Ihe world with truth an<l 

grace, 
And makes the nations prove 
The glories, of His righteousness, 
And winders of His love. 



54 



Jesus Came to Earth. 



Mrs. Alexander, 



Schumann 



<mm^mm^m\ 



I. Je s us came to 



earth from heav- en, Who 'is God and 
■0- _*■-*■ -•#- 






1= 



:d: 



rj: 






Lord of ;iUi 



And his shel - ter was a sta ble, 
^M. JL M. JK. *.*.*.* + 

-•-!— •-hl»--h-r# i |-Tr— — r~«-r- 



iiEE^^iffiSS^^ 




And his en 



stall, 



With the poor, and 









mean, and low i Jy, "Lived on earth our Sav - iour dear. 



And our eyes at last shall see him, 
Through his own redeeming 
loye; 

For that child, so dear and gentle, 
Is our Lord in heaven above. 

And he leads his children on 
To that place where he is gone. 



3 Not in that poor lowly stable, 
With the oxen. standing by, 
We shall see him, but in heaven, 

Sit at God's right hand on high. 
When, like stars his children 
crowned, 
All in white, shall wait around. 



55 



Away In a Manger, No Crib for a Bed. 

Translated from Martin Luther, <1483-1546) J. E. Spillman. 1834. 

l r A way in a man - ger, no . crib for a bed, 



31 



-•- 



Tlie lit - tie Lord Je sus laid down His sweet head. 



-7-t- r t- 



J *-. 



— •— r£ — * — #— c # ~ * — *~Z * — * — tr? 1 



fe^' 



•- V i— . v-i -^ S— ■— S-t f - 1 



the bright sky looked down where He lay— 
<~ ; - - ■-• — # — r #— » — r— r # — » — #— r s>~— , 



The stars 

— J- 



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["he lit - le Lord Je- sus a- sleep on the hay. A men. 
#- r #— #— ^r-#— »-.-»-(-#— #— •- f -<5> — j— & - rt "31 



The eattle are lowing, the baby 
awakes, 

But little Lord Jesus no crying He 
makes. 

I love Thee, Lord Jesus, look down 
from the sky, 
And stay by my side untU morn- 
ing is nigh. 



I 

•3 Be near me, Lord Jesus; I a,sl< 

Thee to stay 
Close by me forever, and love me, 

I pray. 
Bless all the dear children in Thy 

tender car», 
And fit us for heaven to live with 

Thee there. Amen. 



56 



Thoro Came Three Ki»?<, Ero Break of Day. 

^on. 16th Century;. ("Epiphany.") R- F Smith. 



1 1 

l. There came tbreekiuga. on* break of dnv. Ail on E pipb-a- 
ny; Their gifts they bare, both rich and rare. All. nil. Lord Christ, 

for Thee; Gold, frankincense and myrrh are there. Where is the 

■rtr ••■#■♦ ^. # » • • ^s> -" 

Klng'O where? O if here T O where is the King r O where? 

it£-£:i:*=F^-j = ^EiL ? ^£;E=E£Efc*ll 



The star shone brightly overhead. 

The air was calm and still; 
O'er Bethlehem's fields its rnys 
were shed. 
The dew lay on the hjlt; 
We see no throne, no palace fair. 
Whe/e is the King? O where? O 

nherei 
O nliere is the King? O where? 



An old mau knelt at a manger low, 

A Babe lay - in the stall. 
The starlight play 'd on the Infant 
brow, 
Deep aileaee lay o 'er afl ; 
A maiden bent o'er the Babe in 

prayer, 
There is the King! O there! O 

there! 
O thfre is the King! O there! 

I'rom "Hymns of Worship sod 'Service for the Sunday Sshanl," copyright by 
'the Ctntury Company. I'sed by permi«siou. 



57 



"0 Little Town of Bethlehem." 

2 j j i j l . 

r^m-m "*♦ *^«-#-.£ *-* L .-J — #-^- L «? . J 

1. O lit -tie town of Beth -)e- hem, How still we see thee lie' 

'gtg^rrt^zr *-^:KJ«-»=»=|i?rif = «^:?'=:*rr?'_t| 

iLtElEZzzy^;=*EME?fe=^z|s] 

i r r i ' i ■ : ^ 

A - bovo thy deep aDd dreamless slepp The si - leut stars go bv, 

' m m *- — ■*— 1— ♦ ill J* ♦ « 

fll£slj:lpppil|i;;!li 



Vet in thy dark streets shin - eth The ev er last-in? Light -, 



The hopes and fears of all the years Are met in thee to-night. A -men. 



: For ' hrist is born of M ary, 

And gathered all above. 
-While mortals sleep, the angels 
keep 
Their watch of wondering love. 
O morning stars, together 
Proclaim the holy birth. 
And praise to God the King, 
And praise sing to God the King, 



3 O holy Child of Bethlehem! 
Descend to us, we pray; 
Cast out our sin, and enter in. 

Be born in us to-day. 
We hear the Christinas angela 

The great glad tidings tell; 
O come to us. abide with us. 
Our Lord Immanuel! 

Phillips Brooks. 



58 



zfe 



"Hark! Hark, My Soul!" 

zfcz ±TZ3 -"33 ^_ — J- J = 



H. Smart. 



zzzg-^Ef.^z.zjzi ^z-tg=^-F^ -J 
1 i ' 

Hark ' hark, my soul, Ao-gel-ic songs are swelling O'er earth s green fields 

and ocean's wave-beat shore, How i««l Ihj truth tl«f blessed strains are telling, 
I I , ' Chorus. 

jfcziz^zazjicjz— qzijr TzztpzzizzzqzrF lzii-dz±:q 
i iff : 

Of that new life when sin shall be do more ' Angels of JV sus, Angejsof 

1 i I I I 

light, Sine ing to welcome the pilgrims of tne night. A . men. 

2 Onward we go, for "Btill we hear them singing, 

"Come, weary souls, for Jesus bids you come;" 
And through the dark, its echoes sweetly ringing, 
The music of the Gospel leads us home. 
Angels of Jesus, etc. 

3 Far, far away, like bells at evening pealing, 

The voice of Jesus sounds o 'er land and sea, 
And laden souls by thousands meekly stealing, 
Kind Shepherd, turn their weary steps to Thee. 
Angels of Jesus, etc. 

4 Angels, song on! your faithful watches keeping; 

Sing us sweet fragments of the song above; 
Till morning's joy shall end the night of weeping, 
And life 's long shadows break in cloudless love. 
Angels of Jesus, etc. 



i: 



59 



SUGGESTED MATERIAL FOR A 

WHITE GIFT CHRISTMAS 

SERVICE. 

Carols. 

"The First Nowell" Traditional 

"Christmas tfymn" Goss 

"See, the Morning Star is Dwelling" B reiver 

"Sleep, Holy Babe" Field 

Anthems. 

"Brightest and Best" Buck 

"Hymn of the Angels" West 

"Like Silver Lamps" Barnby 

Hymns. 

Hark ! What mean those holy voices, 

All hail the power of Jesus' Name. 

Hark! ten thousand harps and voices. 

Hark! the herald angels sing. 

Joy to the world. 

As with gladness men of old. 

little town of Bethlehem — 

Holy night! peaceful night! 

There's a song in the air. 

It came upon the midnight clear. 

We three kings of Orient are — 

Stories. 

The Story Hour, the magazine of the Story Tellers' 
League, contains each year a number of good Christmas 
stories. Address The Story Hour, 3320 Nineteenth 
Street N. W., Washington, D. C. 
60 



Why The Chimes Rang, originally published in the Kin- 
dergarten Magazine in 1896, is now issued in book form. 
Published by the Bobbs Merrill Company, Indianapolis, 
Ind. 

Legend of St. Christopher. 

Legend of The Christmas Tree. 

How The Fir Tree Became The Christmas Tree. 

The Pine Tree. 
These stories may be found in "For the Children's Hour," 

published by the Milton Bradley Company, Springfield, Mass. 



61 



DEC 19 1310 



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